preposition

Q: What is an example of a preposition?

The most common prepositions are at , by , for , from , in , of , on , to , and with . Other common prepositions are about , above , across , after , against , along , among , around , because of , before , behind , below , beneath , beside , between , close to , down , during , except , inside , instead of , into , like , near , off , on top of , onto , out of , outside , over , past , since , through , toward , under , until , up , upon , within , without .

1 of 2

noun

prep·o·si·tion ˌpre-pə-ˈzi-shən

: a function word that typically combines with a noun phrase to form a phrase which usually expresses a modification or predication

prepositional

ˌpre-pə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)nəl

adjective

prepositionally adverb

prepositional

2 of 2

adjective

prep·o·si·tion·al

-shnəl

: of, relating to, or formed with a preposition

prepositional phrases

prepositionally

-ᵊlē,

-əlē,

-li

adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you end a sentence with a preposition?

There is nothing wrong with ending a sentence in a preposition like to, with, for, or at. English speakers have been doing so since the days of Old English. The people who claim that a terminal preposition is wrong are clinging to an idea born in the 17th century and largely abandoned by grammar and usage experts in the early 20th.

What exactly is a preposition?

A preposition is a word—and almost always a very small, very common word—that shows direction (to in "a letter to you"), location (at in "at the door"), or time (by in "by noon"), or that introduces an object (of in "a basket of apples"). Prepositions are typically followed by an object, which can be a noun (noon), a noun phrase (the door), or a pronoun (you).

What is an example of a preposition?

The most common prepositions are at, by, for, from, in, of, on, to, and with. Other common prepositions are about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, because of, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, close to, down, during, except, inside, instead of, into, like, near, off, on top of, onto, out of, outside, over, past, since, through, toward, under, until, up, upon, within, without.

Examples of preposition in a Sentence

Noun The preposition “on” in “The keys are on the table” shows location. The preposition “in” in “The movie starts in one hour” shows time.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

First, proper English grammar (widely ignored nowadays) dictates that sentences should never end in a preposition. —

Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2026 Nary a missed comma or dangling preposition to be found. —

Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 1 May 2026 At the direction of @CAgovernor, @Cal_OES worked with local officials to preposition resources such as rescue swimmers to @LACOFD to support response efforts to recent storms. —

Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 26 Dec. 2025 These diagrams break sentences down into noun phrases and verb phrases and then further subdivide them into nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and so forth. —

Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 31 Oct. 2025 The State Department declined to say whether a Disaster Assistance Response Team had been deployed in advance of the Category 5 storm to help prestage U.S. aid or preposition to assist U.S. citizens. —

Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025 The city’s grandest temple to art has shed a preposition. —

Sheri Lambert, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2025 Sorry to end sentences with prepositions. —

Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025 The greatest writers in English havefreely employed terminal prepositions. —

Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English preposicioun, from Anglo-French preposicion, from Latin praeposition-, praepositio, from praeponere to put in front, from prae- pre- + ponere to put — more at position

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary preposition + -al

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of preposition was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

prepose

preposition

prepositional

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to preposition

Commonly Confused Words Quiz

Take a (break/brake) and (pore/pour) over this (cache/cachet/cash) of questions about commonly confused words.

What is a preposition?

8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But...

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Preposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preposition. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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Kids Definition

preposition

noun

prep·o·si·tion ˌprep-ə-ˈzish-ən

: a word or group of words that combines with a noun or pronoun to form a phrase that usually acts as an adverb, adjective, or noun

"with" in "the house with the red door" is a preposition

prepositional

-ˈzish-nəl

-ən-ᵊl

adjective

preposition

noun

adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Examples of preposition in a Sentence

Word History